Cabernet sauvignon

Far from any tourist trap or commercially abused landscape, lies the Sijnn vineyards. Specially selected by co-owners David & Rita Trafford and wine visionary Simon Farr in 2003 for its incredible soils of pudding stones on broken shale. Only 15km from the sea, provides a cool breezy climate. The main focus is Sijnn is the search for an ideal blend of warm climate mostly Mediterranean varieties, but we just couldn’t resist planting a hectare of Cabernet Sauvignon, most of which we bottle separately.

VINEYARD

The complex stony soils, together with a warm dry climate (350mm) moderated by constant sea breezes provides an ideal terroir for these 7 year old vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on the pure rolled stones with no visible slate within the top 1,5m of the soil profile. Exceptionally low vigour and yield mean the vines ripen the grapes without undue stress despite the extreme conditions. Unusually, as it is not traditional, the Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted as bush vines and actually works extremely well. Clone CS169B was planted on drought resistant rootstock R110. Yield: 3.0 ton/ha (24 hℓ/ha)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

An ideal, classic vintage. Vines irrigated in the winter and again at veraison to assist the critical ripening process, otherwise the vines are left to fend for themselves and adapt to their environment.
Harvest date: 25/2/2011.

PRODUCTION

Handpicked and carefully sorted in 14 kg flat trays in the cool mornings, to avoid damaging and transported back to Stellenbosch. Further sorting in Stellenbosch and 98% destemming and gentle crushing directly into an open top 700ℓ French oak vat. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 29°C. Time on the skins 9 days, with caps of the skins punched down (pigeage) 2 to 3 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. All our red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Time in barrel 18 months, which included 3 rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation.
The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered.
Bottling date: 07/12/2012 Production: 56 x 12 x 750mℓ

ANALYSIS

VINEYARD

The complex stony soils, together with a warm dry climate (350mm) moderated by constant sea breezes provides an ideal terroir for these 6 year old vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on the pure rolled stones with no visible slate within the top 1,5m of the soil profile. Exceptionally low vigour and yield mean the vines ripen the grapes without undue stress despite the extreme conditions. Unusually, as it is not traditional, the Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted as bush vines and actually works extremely well. Clone CS169B was planted on drought resistant rootstock R110. Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Yield: 3.0 ton/ha (24 hℓ/ha)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Typical dry windy conditions meant tiny yields and moderate growth. Jan/Feb average max. 26°C, but very few days over 30°C. Usually the maximum temperature is reached before midday and it is a little cooler in the afternoon due to the strong sea breezes. Vines irrigated before growing season and again at veraison to assist the critical ripening process, otherwise the vines are left to fend for themselves and adapt to their environment.
Harvest date: 1/3/2010.

PRODUCTION

Handpicked and carefully sorted in 14 kg flat trays in the cool mornings, to avoid damaging and transported back to Stellenbosch. Further sorting in Stellenbosch and 98% destemming and gentle crushing directly into an open top 700ℓ French oak vat. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 29°C. Time on the skins 9 days, with caps of the skins punched down (pigeage) 2 to 3 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. All our red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Time in barrel 18 months, which included 3 rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation.
The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered. Bottling date: 22/12/2011 Production: 60 x 12 x 750mℓ

ANALYSIS

VINEYARD

The complex stony soils, together with a warm dry climate (350mm) moderated by constant sea breezes provides an ideal terroir for these 3 year old vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on the pure rolled stones with no visible slate within the top 1,5m of the soil profile. Exceptionally low vigour and yield mean the vines ripen the grapes without undue stress despite the extreme conditions. Unusually, as it is not traditional, the Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted as bush vines and actually works extremely well. Clone CS169B was planted on drought resistant rootstock R110. Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Yield: 3.0 ton/ha (24 hℓ/ha)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Typical dry windy conditions meant tiny yields and moderate growth. Jan/Feb average max. 26°C, but very few days over 30°C. Usually the max. temp. is reached before midday and it is a little cooler in the afternoon due to the strong sea breezes. Vines irrigated before growing season and again at veraison to assist the critical ripening process, otherwise the vines are left to fend for themselves and adapt to their environment. Harvest date: 18/02/2009.

PRODUCTION

Handpicked and carefully sorted in 14 kg flat trays in the cool mornings, to avoid damaging and transported back to Stellenbosch. Further sorting in Stellenbosch and 98% destemming and gentle crushing directly into an open top 700ℓ French oak vat. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 29°C. Time on the skins 9 days, with caps of the skins punched down (pigeage) 2 to 3 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. All our red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Time in barrel 18 months, which included 3 rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation.
The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered. Bottling date: 23/12/2010 Production: 42 x 12 x 750mℓ

ANALYSIS

This is effectively an “off-cut” from the blending process to produce our top wine, labeled simply SIJNN 2007.

VINEYARD

The complex stony soils, together with a warm dry climate (350mm) moderated by constant sea breezes provides an ideal terroir for these 3 year old vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on the pure rolled stones with no visible slate within the top 1,5m of the soil profile. Exceptionally low vigour and yield mean the vines ripen the grapes without undue stress despite the extreme conditions. Unusually, as it is not traditional, the Cabernet Sauvignon is also planted as bush vines and actually works extremely well. Clone CS169B and on drought resistant rootstock R110. Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Yield: 1.0 ton/ha (6 hℓ/ha)

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

Typical dry windy conditions meant tiny yields and moderate but good growth. Vines were irrigated lightly at veraison to assist with the critical ripening process otherwise they are left to fend for themselves. Light rain a few weeks before the harvest assisted the ripening process and the grapes were harvested in excellent condition. Harvested on the 22nd February 2007.

PRODUCTION

Handpicked and carefully sorted in 14 kg flat trays in the cool mornings, to avoid damaging and transported back to Stellenbosch. Further sorting in Stellenbosch and 98% destemming and gentle crushing directly into an open top 700ℓ French oak vat. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ max. temp. 29°C. Time on the skins 9 days, with caps of the skins punched down (pigeage) 2 to 3 times a day. Wine drained directly to barrels together with single pressing from traditional basket press. All our red wines undergo malolactic fermentation in the barrel. Time in barrel 18 months, which included 3 rackings to gradually clarify the wine and assist maturation.
The wine was bottled by hand, unfined and unfiltered. Bottling date: 15/09/2008 Production: 24 x 12 x 750mℓ